– Stick to the topic. This will help the online discussion to flow and be more interesting, allowing ideas to develop in a useful way.
– Be Respectful. Profanities, name calling, personal attacks on fellow supporters, politicians or public figures are prohibited.
– No junk mail. No advertising or promoting products or repeatedly posting the same point.
– Have fun! Share your photos, experiences and the exciting ideas that are being discussed.

My urge to jump on Twitter right now and just tweet “FUCK FUCKITY FUCK FUCK FUCK #Labour2012” is strong, friends.

Um, Labour? Your social media team … they do know how social media works, right? They’re not just jumping on some “Barack Obama totes used social media so that makes it cool!” bandwagon, please God?

But you don’t actually get to fucking tell other people what they may or may not tweet on “your” hashtag. You don’t get to act like you have some kind of authority over other people’s participation in social media.

You do get to lay down the law on some sites, i.e. what people can and can’t say on your own Facebook page, but … that’s a bit different from “social media” as a whole.

Gods, what am I doing? I’m trying to educate people who refer to tweets as

‘Live Tweets’

and expect conference attendees to charge the venue’s WiFi to their credit cards for fuck’s sake.

Who is ‘they’ and if they are a ‘they’ then who are you? All this in group/out group language makes me wonder about the agenda of most of these posts. Who takes the time out of their day to be so concerned about such trivial matters?

Hey Kofi! I’m terribly sorry that my interests do not align 100% with yours. I’ll get right on to only posting about things you think are important!

As to the use of “they” and “them” in this post, sometimes I’m referring to Labour’s strategic team, i.e. the people in charge of this silly social media approach. Sometimes I’m referring to Labour’s audience. It’s all a matter of context. If you’d rather read “in group/out group language” into a basic use of the third person plural, I’m afraid that’s something I cannot help you with.

I was thinking that. After all the first thing I do when I walk into a place that charges for bandwidth is that I turn the wifi hotspot on the HTC one V if I want to use the pad, or jack it on usb for the laptop. Now this is one of the cheapest smartphones you can get, and I already pay for the bandwidth on it that I never use.

Why would I buy more? Only reason would be if it was dead zone and they are few and far between .

Hey, calm down buddy.
If you think Labour are pants at social media have a look at the complete lack of engagement by National. The only ones who could arguably be called successful are the Greens and that is in my opinion because nobody ever goes after them. They are still not taken seriously by anybody who picks holes in political parties.
And they pick subjects that while being impossible to attain are hard to attack. Linking dolphins and penguins with scary hard left socialism is the most genius marketing ploy of this century.

Social media and clicktivism are not game changers for Labour. The people who Labour needs to engage with and actually get out to vote don’t tweet and FaceBook in their spare time, even if they have internet.

You seem to think that ALL of the people that didn’t vote are the same and that they don’t use social media. In the circles I move in, many of the people that don’t vote use social media. Hence my question.

Oh so all of the 16-21 year olds who do not have any political engagement at the moment are not important to Labour?

God.

Seriously. This is just GIFTING the youth vote to the Greens. a coherent social media strategy is part of Labour appearing to be not just some far away land of politicians, but a relatable political movement.

I disagree. The most genius marketing ploy of the century is letting private institutions create money and then charging interest on this “book entry money” – all the while fuelling various consumerism “bubbles” to keep the cycle perpetuating.. 🙂

I totally agree bomber Shearer Little and Cosgrove couldn’t have been so bloody dumb. You influence through social media it might not win you the vote today but the seed/thought may give you the momentum and a vote in the future, social media is all about framing, this Labour caucus has no bloody idea none. Sadly we have way more problems than just Shearer in Labour.

To Andrew Little bloggers vote you bloody dumb arse and they belong to Labour so they do get to vote yes even at conference. No wonder you didnt win New Plymouth !Little gets SMUCK of the day!

+1
And I had been thinking little was at least a contender for a top ministerial role. He has given some good speeches in the House. But now he just looks like another MP more beltway-bubble than representative of an inclusive society: one that supports those struggling on the margins.

They have also banned the Truth from covering their conference because they don’t like the editor. Say what you like about that particular paper and its new editor, but Josie Pagani, Chris Trotter and Willie Jackson all write for it and you would think it should be able to attend the conference.

As it happens, National always allowed Chris Trotter to register when he was running The Political Review. But I also don’t think “Socialist Worker” is the right comparison. Truth has been around since 1887 and is, for better or worse, an established newspaper. It has a range of writers, including those I mentioned above, and reaches a working class audience. To ban it from having one of its staff sitting alongside the press pack is not a good look.

Slater has spent his entire “career” building a reputation as the least trustworthy person in the nz blogosphere, the biggest liar, the most unhinged, proud of illegally publishing the identities of the victims of sex crimes, happily spreading hatred and bigotry wherever he goes.

Even the mongs at Kiwiblog found his first edition of “Truth” distasteful and stupid.

He has spent years deliberately fashioning himself as a “wild card”. Bit late to start complaining that no-one wants him in the deck.

Come on Matthew – it’s a stretch and a half to call The Truth a “newspaper”. Just by virtue of the fact it is written on newsprint does not automatically make it a newspaper. Tabloid? – perhaps.. Advertorial? – perhaps.. Several other less salubrious options? – perhaps.. but a newspaper? – no.

I suspect that if the Truth put up someone else who hadn’t already gotten themselves banned from a National party conference (as a minor one of his wall of ears or whatever he calls it) then they’d get in.

But journo’s at Labour party conferences are meant to sit and observe or have quiet conversations with people. Who could trust Cameron to do just those things? For that matter he’d probably spend much of the time writing stories about who was sitting with whom and weaving another conspiracy from it because he simply doesn’t understand very much.

Basically if he acts like a barbarian for years, then why would people expect that just getting a job would make him any different?

That’s even worse. That’s the Labour Party deciding which reporters newspapers can send along. Like when Muldoon banned Tom Scott from his press conferences. Newspapers get to send who they like. That’s how free and open societies work.

As far as I’m aware the media organisations don’t apply as a organisation, they apply for individuals to attend. It is exactly the same as every delegate to a NZLP conference.

The paperwork may be done by your LEC (mine always was) or organisation (mine is), but your invitation is for you and you pick up a pack marked and tailored for you. This includes such details as times of interviews, voting rights, etc etc.

Party conferences are a pain to organize (I’ve had to listen to many Labour HQ people moaning about it over the years) and one of the reasons is because it is completely done on a individual basis.

In fact I can’t think of ANY conference that I have ever attended where it wasn’t done on an individual basis. Perhaps you are thinking of some dystopian novel you read where faceless corporations rule the word and their minions are interchangeable. But I suspect you wouldn’t fit in well.

Which Slater we talkin bout – the one that pasted our first female and one of our all-time greatest Prime Minister’s face onto pornography and broadcast it to the whole world? That one?
Oh sure, Labour should really welcome him all right.
What a right hooter you are cob.

Have a trawl through Clint Heines blog. Some of us have been at this for a while QoT. We made posters to burn in our weekly bunker get togethers. Cam has pushed the limits many times but he did not shop Clark in that way

QoT. Irrespective of what that inaccurate msm story wrote I am telling you that it was not Cam. It was in fact Clint Heine, it is still on his blog. I remember it well because many of uswho have been at this for a while copied it and both the Clark pic and James Sleep pic ran extensively through most of the right leaning blogs.
Cam allows the myth to survive because he does not pay any attention to it.
There are many reasons for you to fear him and or attack him but sadly for this particular myth it is completely untrue.

Allowing Slater into the labour party conference would be like allowing Hannibal Lecture run a creche. Slater is NOT a journalist, he is a hate monger. Using ‘he hires Jose Pagani’ as a justification to suggest ‘balance’ is about as dishonest as it gets, Josie is the ‘left’ opinion when the msm want to pretend to look balanced.

You are really all missing the point. These are the sorts of things Muldoon might have said about Tom Scott. Its not that Labour should “welcome” Slater to the conference. The issue is, if the Truth is registered, it gets to decide who it sends.

Both Hooton and Slater are lobbyists/propagandists.
Slater does not pretend to be otherwise.
Hooton wants to “run with the hare and hunt with the hounds”. He is presented as an independant commentator on radio and a national party insider when doing lobbying. He plays a bit role in Hollow Men.
Slater has more transparency than Hooton.

Labour needs to become a more open party. Let the whores in. It will be a giggle!

Both of them don’t care about politics at the end of the day (take Ann Coulter, Karl Rove or Glenn Beck), they like to take it out on politicians; usually they have bias towards attacking the left but it is just male chauvinism/angry white men in a new form.

The issue is, if the Truth is registered, it gets to decide who it sends.

Nah, see, from what far more trustworthy people are saying above, the Truth gets to decide which people it puts forwards applications for media credentials for. And then Labour gets to decide who it approves media credentials for. And then no one actually buys into the idea that banning Slater – see aforementioned porn ‘shopping incident – is any kind of attack on the freedom of the press.

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This week Parliament will select another members’ bill from the cookie tin (I kid you not, it really is a cookie tin) and I’ve just launched a new bill I’m hoping will get pulled – to help people get into ...

I want to end homelessness and ensure that everyone has a warm, safe, dry home. This National Government has let down New Zealanders, especially the thousands of New Zealanders who are struggling with something so basic and important as housing. ...

Kiwis affected by earthquakes might not get a fair deal if the Government pushes ahead with secret plans to let private insurers take over the assessment of claims, says Labour’s Canterbury spokesperson Megan Woods. “Under questioning from Labour the Government ...

The Prime Minister’s fixation with tax cuts, despite a failure to pay down any debt and growing pressure on public services is the real ‘load of nonsense’, says Labour Finance spokesperson Grant Robertson. “We’re getting mixed messages from National. John ...

Last week we were very concerned to hear that an Auckland imam, Dr Anwar Sahib, had been preaching divisive and derogatory messages about Jewish people and women during his sermons. It was a disturbing incident coming at the end of ...

Tairāwhiti says yes to a clean environment for our mokopuna today and for generations to come. Tairāwhiti are have a responsibility to uphold their mana motuhake over their land and their peoples and are calling on the Government to honour ...

Today the Greens have unveiled a comprehensive set of initiatives around the politically fraught policy area of drug law and reform, showing Moral courage on the issue of Medical Cannabis that has been lacking in parliament. ...

Friday 9 December marks International Anti-Corruption Day. This was established after the passage of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption in October 2003 and came into being because of the UN's concerns over the huge dangers corruption poses ...

The Taxpayers’ Union is calling out those who are pushing for the implementation of a sugary drink tax as a ‘post-truth virtue signalling’ citing evidence that many of the claims being made about sugar taxes are demonstrably wrong. ...

“The current Government’s priorities for next year’s Budget say nothing about improving public services, yet deteriorating public services hurt working people as much as a pay cut,” says CTU Economist, Bill Rosenberg. ...

Corrections releases COTA reports To be attributed to Chief Custodial Officer Neil Beales: The United Nations Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture establishes an international inspection system for places of detention. The Ombudsmen has responsibility ...

I have today apologised to Mr Derek Leask and Mr Nigel Fyfe for issues identified by the Ombudsman relating to the Investigation into the Possible Unauthorised Disclosure of Information Relating to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) and ...

I need to be clear that while the Ombudsman identified issues with fairness and process in the investigation and release of the final report, these concerns relate to one section of a wider report. ...

The union representing more than 900 ambulance officers says its members are pleased that St John has announced to staff it will begin interpreting the meal break provision differently, but they’re renewing their calls for more staff to help relieve ...

State Housing Action Network 7 December 2016 Media release: Overseas investors not welcome to buy Christchurch state houses The news that Housing New Zealand is holding an “invite-only” seminar in Sydney next week for potential buyers of state houses ...

The importance of good risk assessment and monitoring of offenders carrying out community work has been highlighted in today’s sentencing of the Corrections Department under the Health and Safety in Employment Act. ...

The Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi supports the decision by the Māori Women’s Welfare League to take a Treaty of Waitangi claim calling for a halt to the reforms to Child Youth and Family and shares the ...

Former New Zealand High Commissioner in London Derek Leask welcomes the formal decision by the State Services Commission (SSC) to accept the Ombudsman’s findings and recommendations on the SSC’s flawed 2012-13 Inquiry into the leaking of MFAT papers. ...

The new Board for Rural Women New Zealand (RWNZ) has been elected. The Board supersedes the Rural Women New Zealand National Council under new Rules and Bylaws ratified by the RWNZ membership at National Conference in 2015. ...

The Autistic Collective wholly supports the recent decision of the government to ban the practise of seclusion in schools. We also agree with statements made by Altogether Autism and the Human Rights Commission on the practise. ...

The New Zealand Government's proposal to take away legal responsibility for water fluoridation from local councils and give it to the District Health Boards could prove to be an exercise in futility. ...

Chief District Court Judge Jan Marie Doogue has entered a conviction against the Ministry of Social Development on a charge of failing to take all practicable steps to ensure the safety of its employees. Judge Doogue declined an MSD application ...

The Public Service is working through the implications of the judgement and sentence in the prosecution of the Ministry of Social Development by WorkSafe New Zealand following the shootings in the Ashburton Work and Income Office in 2014. ...

Article by AsiaPacificReport.nzBy Dr Alexandra Wake in Melbourne As a magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck off the coast of Kirakira in the Solomon Islands early today, triggering a tsunami warning across the Pacific, many residents of the country would have ...

We are always comparing ourselves to other parents, but comparing yourself to animals probably isn’t always a good idea. Thom Adams explains why. Mother hens, tiger mums, pangolin dads… as parents, we do have a habit of comparing ourselves with ...

Every Friday, ‘The Album Cycle’ reviews a handful of new releases.ALBUM OF THE WEEKChildish Gambino – Awaken, My LoveGive it a first listen and you’d be forgiven for thinking Awaken, My Love! wasn’t a Childish Gambino record ...

Tara Ward does the unthinkable, and binge-watches 22 episodes of guinea pig dates on TVNZ Ondemand. It’s not often you enjoy a guinea pig’s quest for true love. Hardly ever, in fact. So when the televisual universe vomits up a ...

Henry Oliver tries to go deep with Los Angeles rapper Vince Staples, fails, and asks him about basketball and cartoons instead.Vince Staples is young, very skilled and very, very chill. He raps fast, but talks slow. His records are ...

As the country counts down to the Joseph Parker vs Andy Ruiz WBO world heavyweight championship fight, The Spinoff presents FIGHT WEEK, an inside look at the life and career of Joseph Parker. Today we’re republishing ‘Inside Team Parker’, the ...

With summer upon us, there is no better time to shut all the sunlight out of your room, pull a blanket over your head and watch TV until your eyes hurt. We assemble the best shows on Lightbox that you ...

Superstar of breakfast radio, All Black captain and owner of a world-class duck face, John Key is one hell of a hard act to follow. But is the PM-designate really that boring? Toby Manhire crushes forever the Dull Bill English ...

Article by AsiaPacificReport.nzPacific countries on tsunami alert following a 7.8 magnitude earthquake off Solomon Islands. Image: USGS A tsunami warning has been issued for several Pacific countries – including Papua New Guinea, Nauru, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu ...

He wants to be a tax-raising and lowering, eat-the-rich Trump-but-not-like-that of the political centre. Duncan Greive heads to Parnell for the Gareth Morgan party’s very odd first policy launch. “Make New Zealand fair again,” says Gareth Morgan, more than once ...

New verse by Dunedin writer Emma Neale.Tag From the tangle of trees by the Warrender Street steps near where city council crews have been deleting the fuck-cunts and dick pics sprayed on the path, sharper than the ...

‘Business is Boring’ is a weekly podcast series presented by The Spinoff in association with Callaghan Innovation. Host Simon Pound speaks with innovators and commentators focused on the future of New Zealand, with the interview available as both audio and ...

John Key was first elected Prime Minister in 2008. What was New Zealand like when the era of radio banter, ponytail pulling, and bad singing was just beginning? Having trouble viewing the quiz? Take it here. ...

Article by AsiaPacificReport.nzFear and Desperation: Refugees and Migrants Pour into Greece. Prizewinning footage shot in October 2015 – March 2016, Greece. Video: Rory Peck Awards Will Vassilopoulos, an Agence France-Presse (AFP) stringer since 2011, has won the Rory Peck ...

If we were able to speak to the people we were when we first became parents, what would we say? Kiri Speirs reaches back through the years to speak to the mum she was to her beloved daughter Zoe.Dear ...

Article by AsiaPacificReport.nzOPINION:By Peter S. Kinjap in Port Moresby Many current Papua New Guinean parliamentarians are highly respected individuals in their own areas – successful in business, education or public service. With such backgrounds, they routinely attract great ...

Novelist Graeme Lay bids a belated farewell to Auckland’s least glamorous but most useful shopping centre. It was one of the ugliest buildings in Auckland’s central business district, in a part of town where there was tough competition for that ...

The latest installment of Final Fantasy has been released from its cage into the arms of millions of fans. Resident Fantas-ites(?) Eugenia Woo and Matthew Codd settled around the old Skype and discussed what worked, what didn’t and why the ...

In the face of everything from anecdote posing as evidence to bias peddlers to outright quackery, the best riposte is to champion good science. But how? Dr Jessica Berentson-Shaw offers seven tips. Science and evidence gets a pretty bad ...

Article by AsiaPacificReport.nzA car is half buried under the remains of a collapsed house in Pidie Jaya regency, Aceh, on yesterday after an earthquake measuring 6.4 on the Richter scale hit the northeastern part of the province. Image: ...

Article by AsiaPacificReport.nzRappler’s Evening wRap on President Duterte and the death penalty.By Mara Cepeda in Manila A proposed measure seeking to reimpose the death penalty in the Philippines has decisively passed the House committee level. Voting 12-6-1, the ...

All week this week we recommend the very best, A-grade quality, guaranteed good books for Christmas. Today: The Shops, by Steve Braunias and Peter Black. Why do photographers talk so much? The best thing about working with Wellington photographer Peter ...

An in-depth Spinoff investigation reveals exactly who invented What Now gunge and unravels the mystery of the secret recipe. Calum Henderson reports. A traditional What Now gunging. (Photo: YouTube – ‘What Now’s Best Gunge!’) “I was gunged while wearing a ...

A byelection is likely in Mt Albert should David Shearer’s South Sudan challenge be confirmed, signalling the departure of the last ex-leader, and leaving the question hanging: did Labour err in knifing him? “Former leaders” are a mixed blessing for ...